La Langue de Molière – La Fleur

In the organizer's words:

"On parle la langue de Molière" - "We speak the language of Molière" is a common saying in Côte d'Ivoire. Molière's language stands for the influence of French colonization, perfectly spoken French for education, success and power. At the same time, Molière took a stand against social hierarchies and took aim at the hypocrisies of the upper classes. The transnational ensemble La Fleur is now adapting Molière's ballet comedy "The Citizen as Nobleman", which mocks a citizen's desire for advancement, and explores its transferability to the (post)colonial situation. There have long been counter-movements in the Ivory Coast to the uncritical adoption of French culture, values and norms: Since the 1970s, many Ivorians have been speaking "nouchi", a hybrid language made up of French, indigenous languages and new slang expressions, accompanied by gestures and dances. With their own choreographies, the performers transform the alternation of acting scenes and ballet intermezzi from the original into their own stage language. In doing so, they focus on the potential of art to rid itself of the curse of cultural conformity with liberating mockery.